The Manitowoc Pilot

A Pistol Duel Across the Table.

A few days after the battle of Waterloo a Mr. Trevor and a certain Captain, while at a dinner party, quarreled about a lady. The Captain being a splendid shot and Trevor almost blind, the latter demanded that they fire at each other across a table. Some one secretly suggested that the pistols should be loaded without ball, and this was done. The two adversaries, who believed their last hour had come, were as pale as death; but if they were a prey to deep emotion, not a muscle trembled. "Who will give us the signal?" asked the Captain. The person who undertook to give the signal, said with a trembling voice: "Raise your pistols." The muzzles touched the breasts of the combatants. "When I count three, fire. One—two—three!" They fired and recoiled from the shock. "What's the meaning of this?" exclaimed the two combatants. "Who has dared to make fools of us? There are no balls in the pistols!" "Honor is satisfied," exclaimed the friends around them. Trevor ground his teeth. "The remedy is easy enough," said the Captain, pointing to some swords suspended from the wall. He took down two, measured them, and presented one to his adversary, who seized it eagerly. "Now there shall be no trickery!" he exclaimed. "Stand off, sir." They stood face to face, and the blades glistened. The contest was short. One of them soon fell—it was the Captain. He expired without a groan. "O, my God!" exclaimed Trevor. "What have I done? Is this a reality?" And in terrible despair he flung himself upon the corpse of his rival, which he shook convulsively, as though to bring it to life again.—Dueling Days in the Army.